Though Easter is a time for joy and celebrating, for my family it will be our first holiday without my beloved grandfather. But on a joyful note, it’s also his first Easter enjoying the promise of resurrection! This holiday I take great comfort in my family’s happy memories and keeping our Polish Easter traditions. It’s something I know he would want us to keep on.

One of my favorites is the Holy Saturday Easter Basket blessing, or Święconka, a tradition with old pagan roots (like many Catholic rituals) still observed today. These days most Easter baskets contain jellybeans, plastic eggs, and chocolate shaped bunny rabbits. But the Easter basket is historically filled with traditional foods. Each item is a symbol, with a specific meaning to celebrate Easter.

Some folks go all out on their Easter baskets. They are decked out in lace and laden with delicious Easter foods (think hard boiled eggs, meats, sweets, etc).

The traditional Polish Easter basket contains:

• Eggs (usually decorated) : symbolizing new life and the resurrection
• Bread : symbolizing Jesus, the bread of life
• Lamb (usually butter, formed in the shape of a lamb) : symbolizing the richness of salvation
• Salt (my mom always brought the pepper too) : symbolizing purification
• Horseradish : symbolizing the bitter sacrifice of Jesus
• Wine: symbolizing the blood of Christ
• Ham : symbolizing joy and abundance
• Cheese : symbolizing Christian moderation
• Candle : symbolizing the light of the world

Once the food is blessed – it is used to prepare the Easter Sunday feasts!  Here are three generations of baskets from me, my mama, and Babcia!

What are some of your family Easter traditions? Tonight my family and I go to mass to celebrate the Easter Night Vigil. I wish you all a Happy Easter Sunday with family and friends